Feed yarn joining system

ABSTRACT

A feed yarn joining system for joining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package at a package creel including package storage sites for receiving the yarn and reserve packages, with receiving units for receiving the yarn head end and the yarn tail end, positioning units for positioning a yarn portion joined to the yarn tail end and yarn head end in the yarn splicing device, the yarn splicing device for preparing and joining the yarn head end and yarn tail end, and a control unit for initiating the start of the splicing operation and executing the splicing operation. Furthermore, a package creel arrangement with a feed yarn joining system as well as a method of joining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package when using a feed yarn joining system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This claims priority from Luxembourg Application No. LU502347, filedJun. 23, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a feed yarn joining system for joining a yarntail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package inthe region of a package creel arrangement exhibiting at least twopackage storage sites for receiving the yarn package and reservepackage. The invention also relates to a package creel arrangement witha feed yarn joining system and a method of joining a yarn tail end of ayarn package to a yarn head end of a reserve package by the feed yarnjoining system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Package creels are normally used for receiving a plurality of fullywound feed yarn packages whose feed yarn is fed to a textile machine forthe processing thereof. Such a package creel may be arranged on acabling machine, as a web package creel or as a warping creel, forexample. Such package creels have in common that they normally exhibitat least two package storage sites, for example bobbin mandrels—alsoreferred to as creeling mandrels—for the accommodation of a feed yarnpackage each, wherein the first feed yarn package, from which the feedyarn underlying the process is drawn off, is referred to as a yarnpackage and the second feed yarn package, from which no yarn has yetbeen drawn off, is referred to as the reserve package. To achieve acontinuous or uninterrupted unwinding operation after emptying orunwinding the yarn package, in advance of the unwinding the yarn tailend of the yarn package is joined to the yarn head end of the reservepackage so that, following the joining of the yarns, the yarn from thereserve package immediately unwinds once the yarn unwinds from the yarnpackage. As soon as the yarn in the processing operation is drawn fromthe reserve package, the reserve package becomes the yarn package. Theemptied yarn package or the yarn package tube is replaced by a new feedyarn package which correspondingly now forms the reserve package. Thejoining of the yarn head end of the reserve package to the yarn tail endof the yarn package is known to be achieved by a yarn joining devicewhich is also known as a splicer.

The patents DE 2 048 529 A1 and EP 2 196 424 A1 both disclose a yarnjoining device which can be displaced along at least one package creelby an operator. However, it is not possible to achieve a fully automaticsplicing operation by this means. Manual splicers are also known whichare carried and used by an operator to join the yarns.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention is based on the problem to provide a feedyarn joining system which fully automatically joins the feed yarnsarranged on the packages, in other words joins the yarn tail end of theyarn package to the yarn head end of the reserve package. Furthermore,an aspect of the invention is based on the problem to provide a packagecreel arrangement with a corresponding feed yarn joining system as wellas a method for the fully automatic joining of the yarn head end of thereserve package to the yarn tail end of the yarn package by such a feedyarn joining system.

The feed yarn joining system according to an embodiment of the inventionis used for joining the yarn tail end of a yarn package to the yarn headend of a reserve package, wherein the packages providing the feed yarnare taken up and mounted for this purpose in package storage sites of apackage creel arrangement.

To join the yarn tail end of the yarn package to the yarn head end ofthe reserve package, the feed yarn joining system provides a yarnsplicing device and a transport device. This yarn splicing device is acustomary, generally known device which is sufficiently known as regardsits structure and functioning. For example, the yarn splicing device maybe a pneumatic yarn splicing device in which the yarns are spliced toone another by a pneumatic system. Alternatively, said yarn splicingdevice may be a thermal yarn splicing device wherein the yarns arespliced to one another by the application of heat. Also conceivable is aso-called wet splicer in which the yarn is joined by the application ofa liquid or aerosol-containing gaseous fluid. A combination of such yarnsplicing devices may also come into question, such as for example apneumatic, thermal yarn splicer wherein a gaseous fluid warmed to apredetermined or predeterminable temperature is applied to and used forthe yarn joining operation. The fluid may be selected as required fromthe quantity of known fluids suitable for yarn joining.

The transport device is used for detecting the yarn head end of thereserve package and the yarn tail end of the yarn package andtransporting said packages into the yarn splicing device of the feedyarn joining system wherein the yarns are placed in position by the yarnsplicing device in the customary manner by the use of a holding device,for example, and subsequently are prepared in a defined manner.

The transport device permits in detail the detection of the yarn tailend of the yarn package and the yarn head end of the reserve package andtheir reliable arrangement in the yarn splicing device, so that areliable joining between the yarn tail end and the yarn head end can beachieved automatically by the yarn splicing device. By this acontinuous, non-interrupted unwinding of the feed yarn can then beguaranteed and a standstill, and consequently a production interruption,can thereby be avoided. Overall, the feed yarn joining system accordingto an embodiment of the invention thus guarantees a reliable automaticjoining of the yarn tail end of the yarn package to the yarn head end ofthe reserve package, and thus the non-interrupted operation of theworkstation.

The provision of the transport device by which the yarn head end of thereserve package and the yarn tail end of the yarn package are detectedand transported into the yarn splicing device, wherein a sensor systemcan be provided to detect the yarn tail end and/or the yarn head end, isachieved by a first receiving device to receive the yarn tail end of theyarn package and a second receiving device to receive the yarn head endof the reserve package in conjunction with a first positioning unit toposition a yarn portion joined to the yarn head end in the yarn splicingdevice as well as a second positioning unit to position a yarn portionjoined to the yarn tail end in the yarn splicing device. According to anembodiment of the invention, at least the first receiving unit and thefirst positioning unit or the second receiving unit and the secondpositioning unit provide a suction unit, which can be a suction tubewith a suction mouth, associated with the yarn package or with thereserve package respectively, each being displaceable between areceiving position and a depositing position, which can be displaceablein a linear manner or along a curve in the route and/or being pivotable.

In an alternative or additional manner, at least the first or secondreceiving unit is provided by a stationary or fixed suction unit, whichcan be a suction tube with a suction mouth, wherein the first or secondpositioning unit respectively associated with this receiving unit isdisplaceable between the receiving position and depositing position,being displaceable which can be in a linear manner or along a curve inthe route and/or being pivotable. The first or second receiving unitrespectively and the associated first or second positioning unitrespectively are actively connected such that a yarn detected by thefirst or second receiving unit respectively is transferred or taken overby the associated first or second positioning unit respectively and canbe positioned by it in the yarn splicing device. Such a functionallyactively connected transport device is known in principle from open-endspinning machines, for example.

The use of a displaceable suction unit, which can be a suction tube witha suction mouth, for receiving the yarn tail end as well as the yarnhead end, is characterised by the fact that it can be reliablyguaranteed that by the multifunctionally designed suction unit thecorresponding end of the yarn can be received in the yarn tail endreceiving position and positioned in the yarn tail end receivingposition in the yarn splicing device. The suction tube can have a sensordevice for detecting yarn, by which it is possible to detect thearrangement of the one end of the yarn on or in the suction unit, whichcan be in the suction tube or in the region of the suction mouth, sothat malfunctions can be reliably avoided both during receiving of theyarn end or yarn start, and in the arrangement of these on and in theyarn splicing device. Also, the suction unit can exhibit a clampingdevice for clamping the detected yarn inside the suction unit. Suchclamping devices are well known, for example, from the area of take-upbobbins producing textile machines such as winding machines and open-endspinning machines.

To produce a high yarn joining quality of yarn tail end and yarn headend, it can be important to position the yarn tail end and yarn head endin the yarn splicing device, which can be inside a splicing channel ofthe yarn splicing device. According to a development of the invention,it is envisaged that the feed yarn joining system provides for a thirdand fourth positioning unit for the defined positioning of the openedends of the respective yarn in the splicing prism. The third and fourthpositioning unit serve respectively to pull the prepared ends of therespective yarns, as far as possible free of twist, in other words ofthe yarn tail end and yarn head end, so far into the splicing channel ofthe splicing prism that they are arranged substantially at the samelevel parallel alongside one another in the splicing channel, but areoriented in opposing directions. The third and fourth positioning unitscan each be provided such that they execute a defined withdrawal of therespective ends of the yarns such that these arrive parallel to oneanother in the splicing channel for arrangement as required. The thirdand fourth positioning units can also be part of the yarn splicingdevice.

The arrangement of the yarn splicing device, the first and secondreceiving unit and/or the first and second positioning unit in theregion of the package creel arrangement can in principle be done in anyway and quantity. According to a development of the invention, it isenvisaged that they are arranged on a common carrying frame. The commoncarrying frame may be that on which the package storage sites arearranged in order to receive the feed and reserve packages. As analternative, the common carrying frame may differ from this. Thearrangement on a common carrying frame allows it to be positionedjointly in respect of the package creel or the yarn package and reservepackage arranged on the package creel, so that the yarn tail end of theyarn package can be reliably joined to the yarn head end of the reservepackage by the feed yarn joining system. According to an embodiment, thecarrying frame may be arranged stationary in the region of the packagestorage sites, or according to an alternative embodiment in which thecommon carrying frame is different to the carrying frame holding thepackage storage sites, the latter may be displaced along the packagecreel, so that it can then be used as required at selected packagestorage sites of the package creel to join the yarn head end of areserve package and the yarn tail end of a yarn package. The carryingframe according to another embodiment can be provided such that it formsa two-dimensional guide system exhibiting a guide frame tensioning adisplacement plane within which guide frame the common carrying framecan be moved in a defined manner, and which can be displaced. In otherwords, the guide frame can form an x-y displacement plane for the commoncarrying frame.

Also, the common carrying frame can be fixed to the package creel or canbe fixable and releasable non-destructively or may be a fixed part ofthe package creel.

In the case of the advantageously envisaged provision of the first andsecond receiving unit as suction units to receive the yarn tail end oryarn head end at the yarn package or reserve package respectively, andwhich can be for their displacement into the yarn splicing device, it isnecessary to supply the suction units with corresponding suction air.Basically according to an embodiment it is possible to equip the feedyarn joining system with a corresponding suction device comprising asource of suction air.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the feed yarnjoining system may exhibit a coupling unit for connection to a source ofsuction air. According to this embodiment of the invention, the feedyarn joining system can if necessary be connected via the coupling unitwith, for example, a central exhaust suction device to the package creelor to a textile machine, so that a separate suction device for the feedyarn joining system can be avoided. Additionally, this embodiment of theinvention permits the feed yarn joining system to be mobile subject tothe package creel or textile machine having connection possibilities tothe exhaust suction device in order to supply the feed yarn joiningsystem. The feed yarn joining system may be supplied with suction airvia the coupling unit, if required.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is envisaged thatthe yarn splicing device, the first and second receiving unit and/or thefirst and second positioning unit are mounted adjustably on the commoncarrying frame. According to this embodiment of the invention, theindividual units are displaceable on the common carrying frame, forexample adjustable together in one plane in their position relative toone another, so that these can be positioned optimally with respect tothe package storage sites and the feed yarn packages stored by thepackage storage sites, so that it is possible in a reliable manner tojoin the yarn tail end to the yarn head end.

According to a further development, a plurality of yarn splicingdevices, first and second receiving units and first and secondpositioning units are arranged on the carrying frame, the arrangementbeing such that each package creel level having at least a yarn packageand reserve package can be assigned or delivered one of the yarnsplicing devices, first and second receiving units and first and secondpositioning units for a yarn joining operation. It is furthercontemplated that the number of yarn splicing devices, first and secondreceiving units and first and second positioning units are assigned to anumber of bobbin creel levels in which at least one yarn package andassociated reserve package are arranged. Corresponding to the number ofbobbin creel levels or the levels each of which has at least onearrangement comprising yarn package and associated reserve package,these can thus be assigned a yarn splicing device, first and secondreceiving unit and first and second positioning unit. For example, thebobbin creel may comprise three bobbin creel levels with at least oneyarn package and associated reserve package, wherein each level isassigned a yarn splicing device, a first and second receiving unit and afirst and second positioning unit for executing the splicing operationof the yarn tail end of the yarn package with the yarn head end of thereserve package.

To control the units of the feed yarn joining system, a control unit isprovided which according to a further embodiment of the invention isconnected for communication purposes to a further control unit such as,for example a package creel control unit, a control unit of a handlingunit handling the package creel or a control unit superordinate to thepackage creel. The connection for communication purposes may normally beimplemented by cable and/or wirelessly. A communication link between thecontrol units allows recourse the existing electronic units of thepackage creel such as, for example, to a sensor system linked to thepackage creel control unit. By this it is possible to improve thehandling of the yarns to be joined such as, for example, when catchingthe ends of the yarns and transferring them into the yarn splicingdevice. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the control unitof the feed yarn joining system is integrated into the package creelcontrol unit, into the other control unit, or into the superordinatecontrol unit, so that it is quite possible to do without a separatecontrol unit.

The control unit is provided to initiate the start of the splicingoperation and to execute the splicing operation by correspondinglyactivating the first and second receiving unit, the first and secondpositioning unit and the yarn splicing device in a defined manner by thecontrol unit. The initiation of the start of the splicing operation isbased on triggering information. This type of triggering information maybe generated automatically by the control unit according to anembodiment. According to an alternative embodiment, the triggeringinformation can be directed to the control unit. Such triggeringinformation may be determined according to requirements. For example,such triggering information may consist of information about acalculated time of the unwinding or emptying of the yarn package, aboutan observed unwinding of the yarn package which has taken place, orabout a planned or executed equipping of a package storage site with ayarn package or reserve package. By initiating the process, the feedyarn joining system can be reserved promptly for the implementation ofat least one splicing operation. According to an embodiment, the controlunit is provided to use the initiation of the start of the splicingoperation to set a defined number of splicing operations and/or adefined sequence of splicing operations to be undertaken.

According to an embodiment, the control unit is linked for communicationpurposes with an input unit, via which an operator manually triggers asignal to the control unit to initiate the start of the splicingoperation. The transmitted triggering signal accordingly contains thetriggering information sent to the control unit to initiate the start ofthe splicing operation.

The triggering information may generally contain information on the siteor the working position of the package creel at which the splicingoperation is to be executed. Alternatively, this information can betransmitted separately before, simultaneously with, or after thegeneration or transmission of the triggering information of the controlunit. The information about the site or working position of the packagecreel can be entered manually by the operator at the input unit orgenerated by way of automatically detected site or position informationregarding the future or already effected unwinding of a yarn package. Inaddition, the site or position information may be transmittedadditionally or alternatively to a control unit of a unit transportingthe feed yarn joining system, such as for example the above-describedmovable carrying frame or may be set by it automatically.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a driverlesstransport vehicle is provided on which at least the first and secondreceiving unit as well as the first and second positioning unit, andfurther possibly the yarn splicing device, are arranged. The driverlesstransport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention isprovided to drive to the yarn package autonomously in order to executethe splicing operation and in which can be to automatically set itsdestination—in other words, which yarn package it should travel to.Driverless transport vehicles are well known. They are controlled in acollective, centrally or individually, in order to travel to definedpositions or sites. In the case of collective control, at least twodriverless transport vehicles are linked for communication purposes withone another so that any destinations within the collective arecoordinated and set for the individual transport vehicles. For this,each driverless transport vehicle has a control unit wherein the controlunits of the transport vehicles are interlinked for communicationpurposes without the integration of superordinate control beingnecessary in order to exchange information for the coordinated andefficient setting of destinations and travel to them. Conversely, thedestinations and also the travel routes of the driverless transportvehicles in the case of central control are coordinated by it.Alternatively, each driverless transport vehicle can be equipped toautomatically set its destination and travel route. This may be achievedif the driverless transport vehicle has a sensor system by which thepackage creel checks for imminently unwinding feed yarn packages,whereupon the sensor system also is linked for communication purposes tothe control unit of the driverless transport vehicle and the controlunit is designed, based on the information detected by the sensors, toanalyse and determine for which yarn package when and which action is tobe carried out, for example the next action such as splicing.Alternatively or additionally, this information can be transmittedaccording to a further embodiment by a control unit which is arrangedoutside the driverless transport vehicle and is linked for communicationpurposes to the control unit of the driverless transport vehicle.

According to a further embodiment, the driverless transport vehicle hasa package changeover unit with a gripper unit for loading and unloadingthe package creel. The gripper unit is movable in multiple dimensions onthe driverless transport vehicle in order for example to fill thepackage storage sites as required with new feed yarn packages or toremove empty feed yarn packages. By this, further automation of theprocess can be achieved. Such a gripper unit is sufficiently well known.In this case, the gripper unit may be provided in a further developmentto initially pull off an unwinding aid that is detachably attached tothe tube during the loading and unloading of the package creel beforeremoving an unwound yarn package or its tube from the package creel, totemporarily store it at a defined site and, after filling the packagestorage site with a reserve package, to remove the unwinding aid fromthe intermediate buffer and place it on the reserve package or the tubethereof. The unwinding aid is a yarn guide which can be detachably fixedto the tube end of the yarn package or reserve package and by which theyarn of the yarn package can be guided in an improved manner and pulledfrom it. The intermediate buffer is a device which is suitable totemporarily receive the unwinding aid. The intermediate buffer can bearranged on the package creel and/or on the driverless transportvehicle.

Furthermore, the driverless transport vehicle may be equipped with apackage buffer which has at least two package storage sites which eachare provided for storing a feed yarn package, whether filled or empty. Apackage storage site can be provided with a filled feed yarn packagewhile the other package storage site is free. By this it can be ensuredthat as part of the execution of a splicing operation a full feed yarnpackage or yarn package is available and arranged in the package creel,and the unwound yarn package or yarn package tube can be removed.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the package storagesite which carries the filled feed yarn package can be provided by anormal bobbin mandrel, which further can be equipped with retractableand extendable clamping elements in order to reliably hold the feed yarnpackage or package tube. The package storage site, which is designed toreceive the empty feed yarn package or unwound yarn package or packagetube respectively, can be provided by a package container which canreceive at least one or a defined number of unwound package tubes.Alternatively, the package storage site which receives the unwoundpackage tube can also be provided by a normal bobbin mandrel andconsequently can also store filled feed yarn packages.

According to a further embodiment, the package buffer with the packagestorage sites and/or each individual package storage site can bemanually or automatically arranged rotatably on the driverless transportvehicle. This permits improved access to individual package storagesites, notably if a plurality of package storage sites are provided. Theautomated rotational movement can be initiated by a control unit whichcan be an additional control unit arranged on the driverless transportvehicle, the control unit of the driverless transport vehicle and/or acontrol unit sited externally. To execute the rotational movement adrive arranged on the driverless transport vehicle, which can be arotary drive, may be provided which is linked for communication purposesto the control unit. Alternatively or additionally, according to anembodiment the rotational movement may be initiated via the gripperunit, which moves the package buffer, for example, from a definedresting position into another. For this, the package buffer can have arotary bearing with defined resting positions.

An embodiment of the invention also solves the problem by a packagecreel arrangement with a package creel comprising at least two packagestorage sites, one package storage site for receiving a yarn package andthe other package storage site for receiving a reserve package, whereinthe package creel arrangement exhibits a feed yarn joining system in amanner according to an embodiment of the invention as described above,or in a further developed manner. A corresponding package creelarrangement is characterised by the fact that the processing effort doesnot come to a standstill after the unwinding or emptying of a yarnpackage as the yarn tail end of the yarn package is promptly reliablylinked to the yarn head end of a reserve package.

The package storage sites can be provided as required. In principle,each package storage site is to be provided such that at least one yarnpackage can be received and after emptying can be replaced by a new feedyarn package. Each package storage site can have in known manner abobbin mandrel which is provided for interacting with a feed yarnpackage.

According to an embodiment, each package storage site has a signal unitfor signalling a current operating state with reference to the unwindingcharacteristics of the yarn package stored on the package storage site.The signal unit can be a display unit by which the current operatingstate can be displayed visually, for example by the use of differentlight colours, light pulses, letters, symbols, graphics and/or codes,which can be machine-readable codes. A colour display by which theproper operation of the unwinding of the yarn package can be indicatedby a first light colour, for example a green light, an unwindingmalfunction is indicated by a second light colour different from thefirst light colour, which can be an orange or yellow light, and anunwinding interruption is indicated by a third light colour different tothe first and second light colour, which can be a red light. The colourdisplay can be a multi-coloured LED unit.

According to an embodiment of the invention, each package storage site,which can be each bobbin mandrel, can be moved, and which can bepivoted, between an operating position and a changeover position. Thispermits the optimal orientation of the feed yarn joining system withrespect to the package storage sites or bobbin mandrels and the feedyarn packages stored therein or arranged thereon. The mobility, whichcan be the ability to pivot, between the operating position and thechangeover position, by which improved accessibility is possible fromoutside the package creel arrangement, permits where necessary simplyand conveniently by the removal of empty package tubes and their manualor automatic equipping with full or wound feed yarn packages. The rotarymovement can be achieved in a manner as described above for the packagebuffer or by generally known methods.

It is further contemplated for the bobbin creel to provide a sensorsystem to detect the emptying of a yarn package and/or a changeover ofthe running yarn from an unwinding yarn package to a reserve package,which then defines the yarn package, and/or the position of the bobbinmandrel. The sensor system may, for example, consist of sensors assignedto each package storage site or pair of package storage sites providedfor storing a yarn package and associated reserve package, or a sensormonitoring all the package storage sites or a plurality of sensorsmonitoring a defined number of package storage sites. For example, thismay comprise one or more cameras. By this the emptying of a yarn packageand thus the necessity for the replacement of the empty yarn package bya reserve package may be recognised promptly and reliably. The sensorsystem can be linked for communication purposes with a control unit,which initiates the swivelling of the bobbin mandrel carrying the emptyyarn package. The position of the bobbin mandrel may also be monitoredby the sensor system. The control unit may be the package creel controlunit, the control unit of the handling unit handling the package creel,or the control unit superordinate to the package creel. Furthermore, thesensor system may be linked to the display unit described above forcommunication purposes. By this the display unit can be caused, forexample, to display or signal in colour the emptying of the yarnpackage.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the problem issolved by a method of joining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to ayarn head end of a reserve package in the region of a package creelarrangement exhibiting at least two adjacent package storage sites forreceiving the yarn package and reserve package by a previously describedfeed yarn joining system according to an embodiment of the invention ora further development thereof. The method has the following steps:

-   -   initiate the splicing operation,    -   activate the first and second receiving unit for seeking and        receiving the yarn tail end of the yarn package and the yarn        head end of the reserve package,    -   activate the first and second positioning unit for positioning        the received yarn tail end and received yarn head end in the        yarn splicing device,    -   activate the yarn splicing device for preparing the yarn tail        end and yarn head end by the yarn tail end preparation system        associated with the yarn splicing device, and    -   activate the yarn splicing device for joining the prepared yarn        tail end and yarn head end.

For seeking the yarn tail end of the yarn package and the yarn head endof the reserve package, corresponding sensors may be used for example,which specify the corresponding positioning of the ends of these yarnsto the feed yarn joining system, so that they can be detected by theenvisaged suction units, received there and transferred into the yarnsplicing device by the positioning units. With the positioning units,the respective ends of the yarns are transferred into the yarn splicingdevice in which they are prepared in known manner, which can beselected, then cut to length and which can be opened via a suitable yarntail end preparation system, i.e. they are prepared such that they areto the greatest extent freed of their yarn twist.

To produce the optimal yarn join, the prepared yarn tail end andprepared yarn head end are subsequently drawn far enough into thesplicing channel of the splicing prism of the yarn splicing device toallow them at approximately the same level parallel to one another to bearranged in the splicing channel, but exhibiting an opposingorientation. Subsequently in a pneumatically designed yarn splicingdevice compressed air is fed into the splicing channel via acorresponding inlet opening, this air resulting in an interlacing of thefibres of the two ends of the yarns, by which a yarn join, and thus acontinuous yarn, is produced.

According to an embodiment of the method, promptly before or at the sametime as the step of initiating the splicing operation a step takes placeinvolving the filling, which can be immediately beforehand, of anemptied package storage site with a reserve package.

Generally the filling of an emptied package storage site can take placeat any time, but promptly before the time of achieving the fullunwinding or emptying of the yarn package. By “promptly”, suchsufficient advance time before the moment of achieving the fullunwinding or emptying of the yarn package is meant, so that before thetime of achieving the complete unwinding or emptying of the yarn packagein any case the steps of filling the emptied package storage site andthe steps of effecting the spliced join between the yarn tail end of theyarn package and the yarn head end of the reserve package have takenplace. Only in this way can it be reliably ensured that the yarn tailend of the yarn package is joined to the yarn head end of the reservepackage well before the complete unwinding or emptying of the yarnpackage, by which a production interruption can safely be avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiment examples of the invention are explained below with referenceto the drawing. The drawing shows:

FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of a side view of a cabling machineprovided on both sides with workstations in the longitudinal directionof the machine,

FIG. 2 a schematic illustration of a rear view of a package creel with aplurality of package storage sites,

FIG. 3 a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the packagecreel shown in FIG. 2 with a service unit which can travel along thepackage creel,

FIG. 3A a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of aworking position of the service unit shown in FIG. 3 ,

FIG. 3B a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of afurther working position of the service unit shown in FIG. 3 ,

FIG. 3C a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of anadditional working position of the service unit shown in FIG. 3 ,

FIG. 4 a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the packagecreel shown in FIG. 3 with a driverless transport vehicle operating thepackage creel,

FIG. 4A a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a workingposition of the driverless transport vehicle shown in FIG. 4 , and

FIG. 4B a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a furtherworking position of the driverless transport vehicle shown in FIG. 4 ,

FIG. 4C a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of anintermediate position of a package storage site of the package creelshown in FIG. 3 ,

FIG. 4D a schematic illustration of an enlarged perspective view of achangeover position of the package storage site of the package creelshown in FIG. 3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of embodiment examples, the same or similarreference signs are used for the elements shown in the various figuresthat have a similar action, in which case the descriptions of theseelements are to a large extent not repeated.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example of the present invention. In aschematic illustration, a side view of a textile machine provided as acabling machine 1 is shown with workstations on both sides in thelongitudinal direction of the machine, on whose upper side the packagecreels 3 which operate the respectively opposing machine sides arepivotably mounted. The package creel 3 associated with an individualcabling spindle 2 is, for example, mounted pivotably by a four-arm joint4 on the upper side of a machine frame 5.

The package creel 3 contains a carrying plate 6 on which to both sidesrespectively a substantially vertically oriented holding plate 16 isfastened which bears two vertically superimposed and forwardly orientedcreeling mandrels defining package storage sites 31 for fitting on to afeed yarn package provided as a yarn package 11 and a feed yarn packageprovided as a reserve package 8. The creeling mandrels are positioned torise obliquely at the front at an angle in the region of 5° to 10° fromthe horizontal, in order to ensure a secure seating of the fitted-onfeed yarn packages 8, 11.

On the carrying plate 6, a support arm 9 is fixed with a forwardorientation which carries a yarn deflection eye 10 in order to deflectthe yarn 14 drawn from the yarn package 11 to the lower machine regionof the workstation, i.e. towards the cabling spindle 2. Correspondingwith the normal cabling process, this yarn 14 is united with the yarn 15in the region of a yarn guide eye, said yarn 15 being pulled overheadfrom a feed yarn package located inside the cabling spindle 2. Above thecabling spindle 2 there are customarily mounted a yarn delivery unit 12and a yarn winding unit 13.

On the support arm 9, a feed yarn joining unit 7 of the feed yarnjoining system is arranged which here exhibits a (not shown) yarnsplicing device as well as a transport device for receiving the yarnhead end of the reserve package 8 and the yarn tail end of the yarnpackage 11. The transport device comprises a first and second receivingunit for receiving a yarn head end of the reserve package 8 and a yarntail end of the yarn package 11. Furthermore, the transport device isequipped with a first and second positioning unit by which the receivedends of the yarns can be arranged in a (also not shown here) yarnsplicing device of the feed yarn joining unit 7. The yarn splicingdevice is equipped in the normal manner for preparing and joining theends of the yarns. For example, a preparation unit for the definedpreparation and opening of the ends of the yarns as well as a splicingchannel to which compressed air can be applied with a splicing prism isprovided for the pneumatic interlacing of the yarn tail ends arranged inthe splicing channel. Furthermore, the yarn splicing device comprises aholding unit for setting the starts and ends respectively of the yarnsas well as a further positioning unit, by which before being joined thestarts and ends respectively of the yarns can be withdrawn in a definedmanner so that they are arranged adjacent to one another in the splicingchannel.

To guarantee continuous processing without a standstill of theworkstation of the cabling machine 1 in the event the yarn package 11 isemptied, the yarn tail end 11A of the yarn package 11 and the yarn headend 8A of the reserve package 8 are detected by the feed yarn joiningsystem through (not shown) first and second receiving units and placedin the yarn splicing device by the first and second positioning unitwhere they are joined to one another in the known manner. After the fullunwinding of the yarn 14 from the yarn package 11, the remaining emptypackage tube is then removed and a full feed yarn package fitted on,whose yarn head end can be joined by the feed yarn joining system to theyarn tail end of the yarn package previously serving as the reservepackage 8.

FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate further embodiments. FIG. 2 shows in thisconnection a schematic illustration of a rear view of a package creel 3serving a web machine, for example, with a plurality of package storagesites 31, wherein respective package storage sites 31 are provided ascreeling mandrels for receiving a feed yarn package, wherein dependingon the use the feed yarn package defines the yarn package 11 or thereserve package 8.

The package creel 3 is provided by a frame with several spaced frameelements 32 and vertical frame elements 33, wherein intermediate spacesincluded by the horizontal and vertical frame elements 32, 33 formworking positions in which a yarn package 11 and a reserve package 8 arearranged respectively. Respective package storage sites 31 or creelingmandrels respectively are arranged on the vertical frame elements 33 ina manner opposing the intermediate space. By this the existingconstruction area of the intermediate space can be used efficiently andthe intermediate space can be kept as small as possible.

In a respective intermediate space or at a respective working position,a yarn splicing device 71 is arranged associated with a feed yarnjoining system according to an embodiment, said yarn splicing device 71being fixed to the horizontal frame elements 32 in the intermediatespace centrally between the package storage sites 31 for the moreefficient use of the construction area. Other arrangements of thepackage storage sites 31 and the yarn splicing device 71 in a respectiveintermediate space are conceivable, but necessitate a largerconstruction area. The yarn splicing device 71 may furthermore as analternative be arranged outside the intermediate space at another unit,as described in more detail with a further embodiment by way of example(not shown).

FIG. 3 shows the package creel 3 illustrated in FIG. 2 with a carryingframe 40 that is arranged opposing the package creel 3 which provides aguide frame for a service unit 50 serving all working positions of thepackage creel 3. The service unit 50 is arranged displaceably on thecarrying frame along the package creel 3 inside a travel plane tensionedby the guide frame.

As is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 to 3C, the service unit 50 has avertical guide 51 on which a carrying unit 72 associated with the feedyarn joining system is arranged displaceably in the vertical direction.The carrying unit 72 bears a jointed first suction unit 73 and aseparate jointed second suction unit 74, which are each provided torotate or pivot respectively around a rotational axis running parallelto the travel axis of the carrying unit 72. The first suction unit 73and second suction unit 74 are provided to detect the yarn head end 8Aof the reserve package 8 and the yarn tail end 11A of the yarn package11, to receive it and to position it in defined manner in a splicingprism 71A of the yarn splicing device 71. The first suction unit 73 andsecond suction unit 74 accordingly form a first and second receivingunit respectively as well as a first and second positioning unitrespectively in the sense of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a perspective view of thepackage creel 3 shown in FIG. 3 with a driverless transport vehicle 80serving the package creel 3. The transport vehicle 80 comprises awheeled transport platform 81 on which a package buffer 82 is arrangedwith a plurality of package storage sites 31 which are each equippedwith feed yarn packages. The package storage sites 31 of the packagebuffer 82 are provided by inclined creeling mandrels which are arrangedon a package buffer carrying frame.

The transport platform 81 also bears a package buffer 82 in the form ofa container 84 which can be for receiving package tubes 17 or emptiedyarn packages 11 respectively. Between the container 84 and the packagebuffer 82 there is a handling unit 83 for handling the package buffer82, the feed yarn packages 8 received therein, the container 84 and thepackage tubes 17 to be placed therein. The handling unit 83 has amulti-jointed gripper unit 85 such as a robot arm, for example, whichcan be displaced in linear manner in the vertical direction along aguide rail 86 of the handling unit 83 (FIGS. 4A and 4B).

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a package storage site 31 of the packagecreel 3 can be operated by the handling unit 83, in that a package tube17 is gripped by the gripper unit 85 and placed in the container 84.Subsequently, the gripper unit 85 detects a feed yarn package from thepackage buffer 82 of the transport vehicle 80 in order to place it onthe empty package storage site 31 on which previously the package tube17 was mounted. The newly placed feed yarn package in this case formsthe reserve package 8 at the working position of the package creel 3,whose yarn head end 8A is subsequently joined by the feed yarn joiningsystem in a manner as described above to the yarn tail end 11A of theadjacent yarn package 11 at the working position of the package creel 3.

The respective package storage site 31 of the package creel 3, as shownin FIGS. 4C and 4D, is pivotable from an operating position into achangeover position. FIG. 4C shows an intermediate position of thepackage tube 17 as well as an operating position of the adjacent yarnpackage 11 at the working position of the package creel 3. Theintermediate position is consequently a position between the operatingposition and the changeover position shown in FIG. 4D.

FIGS. 4C and 4D further show that the package storage sites 31 areequipped with a display unit 90 for displaying the current operatingstate. The display unit 90 of the package storage site 31, which bearsthe empty package tube 17, is set to red light, in contrast to whichpackage storage sites 31 equipped with feed yarn packages show a greenlight. The red light display enables direct signalling and recognitionof a package storage site 31, at which a new feed yarn package is to beequipped. The green light signals a proper operating state at therespective package storage site 31.

Alternatively, the display unit 90 is used according to an embodiment(not shown) for displaying the current operating state of the respectivepackage storage site 31 or the working position of the package creel 3respectively. Thus the package storage sites 31 equipped with feed yarnpackages are displayed with green light, wherein proper operation of theyarn package 11 in the form of its unwinding and proper operation of thereserve package 8 in the form of an existing yarn join between the yarntail end 11A of the yarn package 11 and the yarn head end 8A of thereserve package 8 is displayed. The yellow light or orange light displaythe package storage sites 31 equipped with feed yarn packages in which ayarn join between the yarn head end 8A and the yarn tail end 11A has notbeen made or still needs to be made. Package storage sites 31 set to ared light indicate emptied yarn packages 11 and/or missing feed yarnpackages.

According to an embodiment which is not shown, the feed yarn joiningsystem alternatively to the embodiment examples described above may berealised in that at least a yarn splicing device 71 is provided on theservice unit 50 by which the quantity of yarn splicing devices 71required for the package creel 3 can be reduced considerably. In thisalternative embodiment, the yarn splicing device 71 is positionedbetween the first suction unit 73 and the second suction unit 74 inorder to allow easy parallel placement of the yarn portions of the yarns14, 15 of the yarn package 11 and of the reserve package 8 in thesplicing prism 71A of the yarn splicing device 71. The yarn splicingdevice 71 with the first suction unit 73 and the second suction unit 74is provided displaceably on the vertical axis of the service unit 50 inorder to be able to service different levels of the package creel 3, inwhich a plurality of pairs of package storage sites are arranged toreceive respectively a yarn package 11 and a reserve package 8 adjacentthereto. Alternatively, the service unit 50 may exhibit a plurality ofyarn splicing devices 71 arranged on the service unit 50 with anassociated first suction unit 73 and second suction unit 74, wherein thenumber can correspond to the number of package creel levels in which inthe horizontal direction a plurality of yarn packages 11 and adjacentreserve packages 8 are arranged, in this case four levels. Each packagecreel level is thus assigned a yarn splicing device 71 with a firstsuction unit 73 and a second suction unit 74 for executing a splicingoperation. By this the times taken for conducting various splicingoperations can be reduced and consequently productivity increased. Theyarn splicing device 71 and the associated first suction unit 73 andsecond suction unit 74 can be relatively displaceable in respect of oneanother in order to further increase the efficiency of the splicingoperation. For example, the yarn splicing device 71 may be displaceableon the vertical axis in a defined manner, in order to bring the yarnportions tensioned by the first suction unit 73 and second suction unit74 into the splicing channel of the yarn splicing device 71.

According to a further, alternative embodiment (not shown), at least thefeed yarn joining unit 7, provided by the yarn splicing device 71 andthe transport device comprising the first and second receiving unit aswell as the first and second positioning unit, is arranged on thedriverless transport vehicle 80. By this the service units 50 to beprovided for each package creel 3 may be dispensed with.

The feed yarn joining system comprises a control unit (not shown) whichis coupled by wire or wirelessly at least to the components which are tobe activated of the feed yarn joining unit 7. To execute the splicingoperation, the control unit is provided by corresponding activation ofthe first and second receiving unit, the first and second positioningunit and the yarn splicing device 71. The control unit may be positionedas needed. According to an embodiment, the control unit is integratedinto the control unit of the package creel 3 or forms a common controlunit with it. According to a further embodiment, the control unit isarranged on the service unit 50 and is arranged according to a furtheralternative embodiment on the driverless transport vehicle 80. In afurther alternative, the control unit is integrated into the controlunit of the service unit 50 or the driverless transport vehicle 80 orforms a common control unit with it. The control unit according to afurther embodiment forms an integral part of a mobile terminal that iscarried and/or operated by an operator.

Independently of the arrangement site, the control unit is provided toinitiate or cause the splicing operation to start based on its ownanalysis or after receiving a triggering signal. According to oneembodiment, the control unit is designed to undertake an analysis ofreceived information based on which a time for unwinding or emptying theyarn package 11 can be predicted or determined. Depending on theinformation from this analysis, the control unit initiates the start ofthe splicing operation. The start of the splicing operation can beinitiated at a point which is sufficiently distant from the time ofachieving the unwinding or emptying of the yarn package 11, in order toguarantee the continuous operation of the working position. For example,the start of the splicing operation is initiated immediately onreceiving the information that a package storage site 31 of the packagecreel 3 has been equipped with a new feed yarn package. Alternatively,the control unit is coupled to an investigative unit which determinesthe quantity of yarn present on the yarn package 11, based on which anunwinding time for the yarn package 11 is determined, depending on whichthe splicing operation is initiated by the control unit.

The feed yarn joining system automatically enables the initiation andexecution of the splicing operation, wherein after initiating thesplicing operation the first and second receiving unit are activated toseek and receive the yarn tail end 11A of the yarn package 11 and theyarn head end 8A of the reserve package 8. The first and secondpositioning unit are then activated for positioning the received yarntail end 11A and the received yarn head end 8A in the yarn splicingdevice 71. Subsequently, the yarn splicing device 71 is activated toprepare the yarn tail end 11A and the yarn head end 8A by the yarn tailend preparation system associated with the yarn splicing device.Finally, the yarn splicing device 71 is activated to join therespectively prepared yarn tail end 11A to the yarn head end 8A.

List of reference signs  1 Cabling machine  2 Cabling spindle  3 Packagecreel  4 Four-arm joint  5 Machine frame  6 Carrying plate  7 Feed yarnjoining unit  8 Reserve package  8A Thread start at reserve package  9Support arm 10 Yarn deflection eye 11 Yarn package 11A Yarn tail end ofyarn package 12 Yarn delivery unit 13 Yarn winding unit 14 Yarn of yarnpackage 15 Yarn of reserve package 16 Holding plate 17 Package tube 31Package storage site 32 Horizontal frame element 33 Vertical frameelement 40 Carrying frame 50 Service unit 51 Vertical guide 71 Yarnsplicing device 71A Splicing prism 72 Carrying unit 73 First suctionunit 74 Second suction unit 80 Driverless transport vehicle 81 Transportplatform 82 Package buffer 83 Handling unit 84 Container 85 Gripper unit86 Guide rail 90 Display unit

1. A feed yarn joining system for joining a yarn tail end of a yarnpackage to a yarn head end of a reserve package in a region of a packagecreel arrangement having at least two adjacent package storage sites forreceiving the yarn package and the reserve package, the feed yarnjoining system comprising: a first receiving unit for receiving the yarnhead end of the reserve package; a second receiving unit for receivingthe yarn tail end of the yarn package; a first positioning unit forpositioning a yarn head portion joined to the yarn head end in a yarnsplicing device; a second positioning unit for positioning a yarn tailportion joined to the yarn tail end in the yarn splicing device; theyarn splicing device, is provided to prepare the yarn head end and theyarn tail end and splice them together during a splicing operation; anda control unit for executing the splicing operation by a correspondingactivation of the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit, thefirst positioning unit, the second positioning unit and the yarnsplicing device; wherein the control unit is provided to initiate astart of the splicing operation.
 2. The feed yarn joining systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the control unit is linked forcommunication purposes to an input unit via which an operator manuallytriggers a signal to the control unit to initiate the start of thesplicing operation.
 3. The feed yarn joining system according to claim1, wherein the control unit is linked for communication purposes to aninvestigation unit to determine a quantity of yarn present on the yarnpackage and is trained to determine an unwinding and/or changeover pointof an unwound yarn package based on a determined quantity of yarn forinitiating the start of the splicing operation.
 4. The feed yarn joiningsystem according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving unit and thefirst positioning unit or the second receiving unit and the secondpositioning unit are provided by a moveable suction unit, which isassociated with the yarn package or the reserve package, between areceiving position for receiving the yarn tail end or the yarn head endrespectively, and a depositing position for placing the yarn tail end orthe yarn head end, respectively.
 5. The feed yarn joining systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the moveable suction unit includes asensor unit for detecting a presence and/or absence of the yarn tail endor the yarn head end in the moveable suction unit.
 6. The feed yarnjoining system according to claim 4, further including a coupling unitfor coupling and uncoupling of the moveable suction unit to or from asource of suction air.
 7. The feed yarn joining system according toclaim 4, further including a clamping device for clamping the yarn tailend or the yarn head end inside the moveable suction unit.
 8. The feedyarn joining system according to claim 1, wherein the yarn splicingdevice, the first receiving unit, the second receiving unit, the firstpositioning unit and the second positioning unit are arranged on acommon carrying frame, wherein the common carrying frame is providedwithin a plane tensioned by a guide frame.
 9. The feed yarn joiningsystem according to claim 1, further including a driverless transportvehicle on which at least the first receiving unit, the second receivingunit, the first positioning unit, the second positioning unit and theyarn splicing device are arranged, wherein the driverless transportvehicle is provided to run autonomously to a site of the splicingoperation which is to be executed.
 10. The feed yarn joining systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the driverless transport vehicle carries ahandling unit with a gripper unit for loading and unloading the packagecreel arrangement, and wherein the gripper unit is movable in multipledimensions.
 11. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 10,wherein the driverless transport vehicle carries a package buffer withat least two package storage sites, wherein a first one of the at leasttwo package storage sites is equipped with a reserve package and asecond one of the at least two package storage sites is free, whereinthe handling unit for removing and positioning the yarn package isprovided on the second one of the at least two package storage sites andfor removing and positioning the reserve package is provided in apackage creel position of the removed yarn package by the gripper unit.12. A package creel arrangement with a package creel comprising at leasttwo package storage sites, wherein a first one of the at least twopackage storage sites is provided for receiving a yarn package and asecond one of the at least two package storage sites is provided forreceiving a reserve package, and the feed yarn joining system accordingto claim
 1. 13. The package creel arrangement according to claim 12,wherein the at least two package storage sites are arranged moveablybetween an operating position and a changeover position.
 14. A method ofjoining a yarn tail end of a yarn package to a yarn head end of areserve package in a region of a package creel arrangement having atleast two adjacent package storage sites for receiving the yarn packageand the reserve package by the feed yarn joining system according toclaim 1, the method comprising: initiating the splicing operation;activating the first receiving unit and the second receiving unit forseeking and receiving the yarn tail end of the yarn package and the yarnhead end of the reserve package; activating the first positioning unitand the second positioning unit for positioning the received yarn tailend and the received yarn head end into the yarn splicing device;activating the yarn splicing device for preparing the yarn tail end andthe yarn head end by yarn tail end preparation means associated with theyarn splicing device; and activating the yarn splicing device forjoining the prepared yarn tail end and the prepared yarn head end. 15.The method according to claim 14, wherein promptly before, or with thestep of initiating the splicing operation, filling an emptied packagestorage site with a reserve package.
 16. The feed yarn joining systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the moveable suction unit is pivotable orlinearly displaceable.
 17. The feed yarn joining system according toclaim 4, wherein the moveable suction unit comprises a suction tube witha suction mouth.
 18. The feed yarn joining system according to claim 8,wherein the common carrying frame is adjustable within the planetensioned by the guide frame.
 19. The package creel arrangementaccording to claim 13, wherein the at least two package storage sitesare pivotable between the operating position and the changeoverposition.
 20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the step offilling takes place immediately before the step of initiating thesplicing operation.